Kendrick Lamar Previews Drake, Lady Gaga Album Features

It was like a scene out of a classic Notorious B.I.G. video, the one where a rowdy crowd tries to getting into a Brooklyn house party and Heavy D is forced to play the bouncer. Yes, the scene outside of Kendrick Lamar’s New York City listening for good kid, M.A.A.d city on Tuesday (September 18) was just like Biggie’s “One More Chance” video.

Inside of Chung King Studios was just as chaotic as industry mainstays, a throng of fans and rappers like Pusha T and Fred the Godson piled into the intimate space to take their first listen to K. Dot’s first major label LP.

Kendrick, who played tracks from the control room alongside his Top Dawg Entertainment family and partners at Interscope Records, didn’t give long speeches or play the songs in sequence or even properly introduce any of the seven tracks that he spun. Instead, he just thanked the crowd for attending and let the music speak for itself.

The first song Kendrick let rip was his much-talked about Lady Gaga collaboration. On it the Fame Monster sang of being a sinner, while Kendrick rapped about the changes around him and the new hanger-ons he’s acquired since becoming more famous. Track #2 was a Hit-Boy produced banger. The rattling bass and packed room made it hard to pick up on specifics lyrically, but judging from the tempo and K. Dot’s bouncy flow, this one could very well end up a DJ favorite.

Lamar didn’t play the entire album, nor did he play previously released singles like “The Recipe” and “Swimming Pools (Drank),” but he did wow the crowd when he rocked a 1990’s-styled track featuring Compton, California rap icon MC Eiht.

And for his final trick, Kendrick pulled out what sounded like it could be “Poetic Justice,” the reported title for his new collaboration with Drake. The two friends seemed to flow seamlessly over a track which samples Janet Jackson—another winner for sure.

At the end of the night Kendrick Lamar cut the music and told the crowd that they would have to wait until the October 22 release date to hear the rest of good kid, m.A.A.d city, which so far, sounds so good.

What are your expectations for Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city? Let us kno win the comments!